Service at Start of the Legal Year 2024

This is a traditional service held annually, where members and of the Judiciary, from Magistrates to Supreme Court Judges, and the Lady Chief justice attend to give thanks and pray over the judicial year. I met the Chief Justice of Jamaica, Mr Bryan Sykes. I learned that members of the Judiciary of England and Wales regularly exchange professional experiences with and train judges in many of the Commonwealth, and former British colonies – their law is based on the law of England and Wales and for some countries their highest level of appeal against their decisions is in the courts of England and Wales, usually the Privy Council. This is also the case for UK’s overseas territories and crown dependencies that have retained the right to appeal to the monarch in Council. Judges also network internationally across jurisdictions.    

The service was followed by a reception, with refreshments at which the Lord Chancellor the Rt Hon Shabana Mahmood delivered a speech and guests had an opportunity to be introduced to the Lord (Lady) Chancellor and exchange a few words.